Switch mechanism



' www@ D. 'GORDON SWITCH MECHANISM l Sept. 3i) '1Q Filed April l1. 1921 Patented Sept. 3Q, i924.`

IAVID D. GORDON, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, TO STACKHOUSE t ALLEN, OF `G}[I[I(`}.A.(`:tf), ILLINOIS, A AR-TNERSHIP CNSISTING 0F JOHN STACKHOUSE AND JOHN R. ALLEN.

SWITCH DIECHANISIVI.

Application led April 11,

T all whom it may cof/wem.'

Be it known that I. Devin D. Gonooi, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State 5 of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Switch Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, concise.y and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying` drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to mechanical movements and lhas for its object the provision of a mechanism vfor performing a certain function which, for instance, is of particular utility in connection with switching devices.

In the application herein I will describe the movement more particularly as applied to a switching device of the wall type, it

being an object of this invention to provide a switchingdevice of this character in which the circuiti shall be made and broken by snap action.

My invention concerns itself particularly with the provision of a. snap action movement of this character in which a minimum number of parts are utilized to eflect the definite result of moving the switch controlling element by snap action into its alternate positions.

In the form of the invention herein shown, the switch controlling element is pivotally mounted and means are provided to cause its snap action movement in alternate directions.

I will describe one form which my invention may take more in detail by referring to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a front view of a switch structure constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view illustrating the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the moving parts;

F ig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts about to change their position by snap action; and

Fig. 5 is an end view of the switch movement proper removed from its containing insulating casing.

In the drawing as shown I'provide the metallic outlet box 23 into which the switch structure carried within the insulating casing 24 is to be placed. A bridge or strap 1921. Serial No. 460,283.

25 carries the switch structure and is fastened to the casing 24 by the screws 26. This bridge is then utilized by means of its extremities 27 to secure the entire structure within the outlet box 23 by means of the screws 23. The extremities of the bridge 25 are provided with bayonet slots 29 as shown more clearly in Fig. l so that it is not necessary to remove the screws 28 in order to insert the switch structure in place. very simple method is thus provided for inserting this switch movement into its position in the outlet box. A cover plate 30 is indicated in dotted lines to complete the entire structure.

The switch movement itself which is mounted within the casing 24 is designed to move by snap action al switch element 31 through the agency of the push buttons 32 and This switch structure includes two arms 34, 34 riveted to the bridge piece 25, which arms support a rotatable spindle or shaft 35. The arms 34 also pivotally support by means of their hook extremities 36 a C-shaped oscillating element 37 to which is insulatingly fastened by means of the bracket 33 the double switch spring 39 so that this switch spring moves with the oscillating element 37. Suitable instrumentalities are interposed to eli'ect a snap 'action movement of this element 37, and consequently the springs 39, first in one direction and then in the other, in order that contact may be established between the terminals 40 and 41 or the contact therethrough broken7 both by snap action. The buttons 32 and 33 are pivotally supported by an oscillating bridge piece 42 which is pivoted on the shaft 35, and which has arms 43 extending parallel to the arms 34. The buttons 32 and 33 which carry attaching elements 44 each have lingers 45 to limit their movement by their engagement with the bridge piece 25. The oscillating bridge piece 42 has projections 46 by means of which it is pivotally engaged between arms of the engaging elements 44. A shifting C-shaped element 47 is slidably mounted within the element 37 through the agency of a spindle or shaft 48 carried by the element 47 which slides in grooves 49 provided in the C-shaped element 37. A spring 50 is mounted between the spindles 35 and 48 and tends to draw them closer together. The element 37 has fingers 51 which at times are engagedb3v the arms '113, this engagement being just prior `to the snap action move ment of the element 87 from one alternative position to the other. rllhe element fil-T is pivoted to the element Lt3 as shown at 52. through the agency of lingers bent from the clement i7 and engaging` apertures in the arms 413.

It will be seen, tor instance, by referring to Fig. 3 that as the button 33 is pushed inwardly to lnove the element 37 from one limiting position to the other, that the swinging part oi bridge piece a2 is rotated in a clockwise direction, thereby ro* tat-ingits arms el?) about the shaft 35. This clockwise movement of the arms i3 swings the element 1li' in a continloelmmlI direction on account of the pivotal engagement at 59, and this element f-l-r' in being' swung about its pivot 418 must also shi'l't its posi tion longitudinally by having ther shaft 48 slide in the groove 49. This movement, ot course, stretches the spring 50 and this stretching movement continues until the pivotal point 52 has passed beyond the center line ot' the shafts 35 and 4:8, at which time the spring' 50 ispermitted to contract, thereby drawing' the element 47 with its snaift 4:8 toward the right along' the slot t9 until. the sli/att 4S reaches the right hand extremity ot this slot (Fig. 4). At the same time the rounded lett hand extremity of the arm t3 has engaged the upper finger 5l ot the element 37, thus pushing thisI element 37 in a con'traclockwise direction to move the shaft i8 slightly beyond the line joining' the shaft 35 and the pivotal point of 'this element 37. The spring' 50 is thereupon in a position to still further contractand rapidly pull this element 37 in a contracloclrwise direction by snap action into its alternative position. i

From what has been set forth the natnre ot my said invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and also that it is capable of a great variety ot uses and modifications without departing from its spirit. Having, however, thus described one 'form which my invention may take,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device oi the character described comprising' a pivoted control member, a pivoted switch operating member, and means interposed between said control memberand saidl switch operating' member' for controlling' the snap action movement ot said switch operating member in both directions when said control member is moved, said means includinga spring' and a shift-- ing element pivotally and shiftably associated with said switch. operating member.

2. A device ol the character described` comprising a pivoted controlv member, a pivoted switch operating' member', and,

means interposed between said control inember and said switch operating member Jfor controlling the snap action movement of said switch operating member in both directions when said control member is moved, said means including a springl and a shiftv ing' element pivotally and shittably associated with said switchoperating lmember and pivotally associated with said control member.

3. .el device of the character described comprising a pivoted control member, a pivoted switch operating member. and means interposed between said control member and said switch. operating member tor cont-rolling' theI snap action movement of said switch operatinp,Y member in both directions when said control member is moved, said means including' a spring' and a shitting;l element pivotally a nd shittably associated with said switch oilierating' member and pivotlally associated with said` control member, and said s' 'inn' hemp;` interposedbetween the outer extremity of said shittingy element and said control member.

l. :t device ot the character described comprising' a pivoted control member, an arm projecting; therefrom, a pivoted switch operating' member. and means interposed between said control member andsaid switch operating' member for controlling' the snap action movement oi? said switch operating member in both directions when said control member is moved, said means including a link pivoted to said arm and a spring secured to the outer extremity of said link and to said arm.

ci device of tie character described comprising; a pivoted control member, an arm projecting therefrom, a pivotedswitch operating member, and means interposed between said control member and said switch operatinnA member tor controlling the snap action movement ot said switch operating member in both directions when said control member is moved, said means including' a link pivoted to said arm, a spring secured to 'the onterertremity of said `link and to said arm and means tor associating said link with said switch operating member to permit of a relatively longitudinal sliding' movement between said link and operating' member.

6. A device of the character described comprising a pivoted control member, an

connecting the outer extremity of said link with said arm and means for associating said link with said switch operating member to permit of `a relatively longitudinal sliding movement between said link and operating member.

7. A device of the character described comprising a pivoted control member, a pivoted switch operating member, means interposed between said control member and said switch operating member for effecting the snap action nicvement of said switch operating member alternately in both directions when said control member` is moved, said means including a spring interposed between said control member and said switch operating member, and means whereby said control member causes initial movement ot said switch operating member from either of its alternative positions to the other.

8. A device of the character described comprising a pivoted control member, a pivoted switch operating member, and means interposed between said members for providing snap action movements for said switch operating member in both directions upon movement of said control member, comprising a member pivoted to said control member and mounted for longitudinal sliding movement relative to said switch operating member, and means exerting a pull on said last mentioned member toward said control member.

9. A device of the character described comprising a` pivoted control member, a pivoted switch operating member, and means interposed between said members for providing snap action movements for said switch operating member in both directions upon movement of said control member, compris ing a member pivoted to said control member and mounted for longitudinal sliding movement relative to said switch operating member, and a spring secured to said last mentioned member and to said control member exerting a pull on said last mentioned member toward said control member.

l0. A device of the character described comprising a pivoted control member, a pivoted switch operating member, and means interposed between said members for providing snap action movements for said switch operating member in both directions upon movement of said control member, comprising a member pivoted to said con trol member and mounted for longitudinal sliding and pivoted movement relative to said switch operating member and a tension spring connecting the pivots of said control member and said last mentioned member.

l1. A device of the character described comprising a pivoted control member, ai pivoted switch operating member, and means interposed between said members for providing snap action movements for said switch operating member in both directions upon movement of said control member, comprising a spring interposed between said control member and said operating member having a sliding connection therewith and means on said control member engaging said operating member to give an initial movement to said operating member from either of its positions toward the other thereof.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this th day of April, A. D. 1921.

DAVID D. GORDON. 

